“Last Comic Standing” funny folks to hit Turlock theater

One comic may have been left standing, but five comics are coming to make you double over with laughter.

The top finishers on this season of “Last Comic Standing” are performing together on a national tour for the hit NBC reality competition show. The series completed its Season 8 run Aug. 14, and now the final five – whittled down from 100 comics invited to perform this year – have hit the road. The tour features winner Rod Man, as well as fellow comics Lachlan Patterson, Nikki Carr, Joe Machi and Rocky LaPorte.

The show will stop at Turlock Community Theatre on Monday. This is the first time the series tour has come to Turlock, and theater managing director Kit Casey said it has proven to be popular. The show is close to sold out and fans have been buying VIP meet-and-greet tickets, as well.

“Not only myself, but our production manager, had been watching ‘Last Comic Standing’ this year and thought the comics were great and thought it would be a good fit,” he said. “This season, they did it a little differently; it wasn’t just amateur comics. These people have been comedians quite awhile and I think it showed. I think the talent was even better. I’m very happy with the five who are coming.”

This year’s crop was put through its paces by judges Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Russell Peters, as well as guest mentors including Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes and Jay Leno.

Georgia native and season winner Rod Man has toured extensively in the past. He previously took first place in the Urban Comedy Festival in New York and has his own half-hour comedy special on Comedy Central. He has appeared on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” BET’s “Comic View” “Showtime at the Apollo” and more.

As winner, he received $250,000, an NBC development deal for his own show and the title of “Last Comic Standing.” Throughout the season, judges praised his relatable comedy and storytelling skills. Barr even told him, “You could read the phone book, and I’d be roaring.”

More on the other tour comics:

• Lachlan Patterson: The Canadian native has appeared on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” “Tosh.0,” the FX comedy “Legit” and VH1’s “Sexiest Artists.”

• Nikki Carr: The 17-year comedy veteran is a mother, grandmother and out lesbian who has performed on BET’s “Comic View,” as well as “One Mic Stand,” Charlie Murphy’s “Crash Comedy,” “Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand Up” and Showtime’s “Stand Up for Family.”

• Joe Machi: The 2013 winner of New York’s Funniest Stand-Up competition as part of the New York Comedy Fest, he also has appeared on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.”

• Rocky LaPorte: The Chicago comic and former truck driver has been performing for more than 25 years. He has performed on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” Showtime’s “Godfathers of Comedy,” A&E’s “Evening at the Improv,” VH1’s “Stand-Up Spotlight” and TBS’ “Just for Laughs.”

Last Comic Standing Season 8 winner Rod Man NBC

The top competitors on the past season of “Last Comic Standing” are on a tour that hits Turlock on Monday. From left are Nikki Carr, Rocky LaPorte, Lachlan Patterson, Rod Man and Joe Machi. NBC

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